Saturday and Sunday at 10pm
Doug Spencer
 Doug Spencer has been a voracious but keenly selective musical omnivore since his early teens. From 1990 through 2005 Doug was producer/founder of The Planet. Every year from 1999 readers of Rhythms Magazine have voted it their 'National Music Program of the Year'. He now presents and produces the Weekend Planet, broadcast Saturday and Sunday at 10pm.
Doug grew up in South Australia. The family farm had neither television nor connection to the power grid. From a very young age Doug was acutely conscious of radio's value as a window into the wider world and its ability to surprise and delight—yes, he was an Argonaut. He remains insatiably curious.
Doug accidentally discovered how deep was his love of music when largely deprived of it as an exchange student in apartheid-era South Africa. At the time he was unaware of the very existence of one of South Africa's greatest musicians, who then lived a few kilometres away; Abdullah Ibrahim went into exile around the time that Doug returned to Australia.
Whilst studying English and Politics at university Doug accidentally found work in one of Australia's first import record shops.
His ABC career began in TV and Radio News in Adelaide. Doug came to Perth in 1983, where he headed ABC Radio's Current Affairs office and was often heard on AM, PM and The World Today. In 1987 he became the only ABC Radio National Specialist 'Talks' Producer outside Sydney or Melbourne, involved in various current affairs, documentary and arts programs as contributor, acting producer and presenter.
In 2000 Doug won 'Outstanding Contribution to World Music' in the Australian World Music Awards. Other ABC program makers often seek his musical expertise. He has provided voluntary musical assistance to Oxfam/Community Aid Abroad and for several years Doug was on the board of Kulcha (Multicultural Arts, WA).
Doug actively seeks the best music, wherever he can find it. He attends many musical events both as audience member and compere. Doug maintains that some of the best musical experiences—both live and on CD—are the ones you least expect or don't already know about; this spirit is at the heart of his radio programs.
Doug and his partner have a particular passion for the Indian subcontinent and the world's wilder, natural places. He particularly loves Patagonia, Kamchatka in Russia's Far East, China's Tiger Leaping Gorge and rates the spring flowering in Australia's southwest as one of the world's most astonishing and beautiful annual events.
Despite his profound love of music he believes that his lack of manual dexterity means the world is a better place for his not playing a musical instrument!
| 
